Qualification details
Title
New Zealand Certificate in Mines Rescue (Level 4) with strands in Surface and
Underground, and an optional strand in Supervision
Version
1
Qualification type
Certificate
Level
4
Credits
105 (135 with optional strand)
NZSCED
030303 Engineering and Related Technologies>Process and
Resources Engineering>Mining and Resources Engineering
Qualification developer
MITO New Zealand Incorporated
Next review
December 2020
Approval date
August 2015
Strategic purpose statement
The purpose of this qualification is to provide the mining industry
with people who have the knowledge, skills and experience to
undertake responsibilities in mines rescue operations as a mines
rescue team member.
This qualification is targeted at skilled and experienced
miners/operators, typically with at least two years’ of relevant
industry experience or similar relevant skills. Learners will
typically be employed within a surface or underground mining
workplace, and will have previously completed the proficiency or
induction training required to be a mines rescue trainee team
member.
Learners will benefit by having a qualification which recognises
skills and knowledge in emergency preparedness and mines
rescue to enable improved job performance and a credential to
enhance employment opportunities.
Organisations will benefit by having people with the skills and
knowledge to undertake planning, emergency preparedness and
mines rescue operations in the event of an emergency.
Graduates will operate under broad guidance within the
structured hierarchy of mines rescue activities.
The strands recognise the specialist skills and knowledge
required to operate as a mines rescue team member in either the
surface or underground sectors of the mining industry.
Underground mining can include mining or tunnelling.
Outcome
Statemen
t
The optional strand includes the supervision of a mines rescue
team.
Graduate profile
Qualification Reference 2784
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
Graduates will be able to:

contribute to pre-emergency risk assessment and undertake
dynamic risk assessment during an emergency situation in a
Page 1 of 6
mine to ensure personal and team safety

contribute to a work team in the mines rescue environment

carry out emergency preparedness and response tasks
related to mines rescue

apply advanced first aid and prepare a patient for
transportation using extrication devices according to current
pre-hospital emergency care practices.
Graduates of the Surface strand will also be able to:

maintain and operate specialist equipment and atmospheric
testing devices for surface mines rescue to ensure personal
and team safety, at a surface mining site.
Graduates of the Underground strand will also be able to:

maintain and operate specialist equipment for underground
mines rescue, at an underground mining site

test gases and interpret atmospheric monitoring results
specific to underground mines rescue operations to ensure
personal and team safety.
Graduates of the optional strand in Supervision will also be able
to:

Education pathway
supervise a mines rescue team undertaking planning,
emergency preparedness and mines rescue operations in
the event of an emergency in a mine.
This qualification may follow on from the New Zealand Certificate
in Surface Mining and Quarrying (Level 3) [Ref: 2785] or the New
Zealand Certificate in Underground Mining (Level 3) [Ref: 2786].
It may lead to the:
Employment pathway

New Zealand Certificate in Mining and Quarrying (First-line
Supervision) (Level 4) with strands in Surface and
Underground [Ref: 2783]

New Zealand Diploma in Mining and Quarrying (Supervision)
(Level 5) with strands in Surface and Underground
[Ref: 2787]

New Zealand Diploma in Mining and Quarrying
(Management) (Level 6) [Ref: 2788].
Graduates are able to volunteer as surface or underground
mines rescue team members in the industry sector in which their
programme of study or industry training programme was
completed.
Qualification specifications
Qualification award
Qualification Reference 2784
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
This qualification may be awarded by MITO New Zealand as the
qualification developer and the industry training organisation
arranging training leading to the qualification under section 5 of
the Industry Training Act 1992.
Page 2 of 6
This qualification may also be awarded by an education
organisation accredited under section 250 of the Education Act
1989 to deliver an approved programme leading to this
qualification.
The formal document certifying the award of this qualification will
display the NZQF logo and may also include the name and/or
logo of the awarding education organisation.
Evidence requirements for
assuring consistency
All Tertiary Education Organisations (TEOs) either arranging
training or delivering programmes that lead to the award of the
qualification are required to participate in a consistency process
scheduled by NZQA.
This will involve reviewing evidence associated with graduate’s
achievement of outcomes, and agreeing acceptable thresholds
for qualification outcome achievement, and areas for
improvement.
To demonstrate how graduates are achieving the qualification
graduate profile outcomes, TEOs are required to produce their
own evidence in a high level report.
Evidence will include the following:

Employer surveys to determine if graduates of the
qualification meet the graduate profile outcomes

A range of workplace evidence demonstrating that graduates
meet the graduate profile outcomes.
Evidence may include:

Any other relevant evidence as appropriate.
Further information on the consistency process can be found on
the NZQA website.
Minimum standard of
achievement and standards for
grade endorsements
The minimum standard of achievement required for award of the
qualification will be the achievement of all graduate outcomes in
the graduate profile through successful completion of an NZQA
approved programme.
Other requirements for the
qualification (including regulatory
body or legislative requirements)
Candidates entering programmes leading towards this
qualification must have previously met the minimum competency
requirements for mine workers in accordance with the Health and
Safety in Employment (Mining Operations and Quarrying
Operations) Regulations 2013.
General conditions for the programme leading to the qualification
General conditions for
programme
Qualification Reference 2784
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
The programme context will be determined by the candidate’s
workplace environment.
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Conditions relating to the Graduate profile
Qualification outcomes
Conditions
1
Programmes must include:
Contribute to pre-emergency
risk assessment and
undertake dynamic risk
assessment during an
emergency situation in a mine
to ensure personal and team
safety.

Unit standard 24469
Programmes may include:

Unit standard 17602

Unit standard 26856
Credits 10
2
3
Contribute to a work team in
the mines rescue environment.
Programmes must include:

Unit standard 17279
Credits 10

Unit standard 15672

Unit standard 11101
Carry out emergency
preparedness and response
tasks related to mines rescue.
Credits 30
Programmes must include:

Unit standard 16697

Unit standard 17744

Unit standard 16687

Unit standard 24473
Programmes may include the following topics:
4
Apply advanced first aid and
prepare a patient for
transportation using extrication
devices according to current
pre-hospital emergency care
practices.

Fire

Hazardous substances

Geotechnical failure/natural disaster

Motor vehicle incidents

Rescues from height or depth.
Programmes may include:

Unit standard 25412

Unit standard 23406

Unit standard 10618

Unit standard 16947
Credits 10
For the Surface strand
5
Maintain and operate specialist
equipment and atmospheric
testing devices for surface
mines rescue to ensure
personal and team safety, at a
surface mining site.
Qualification Reference 2784
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
Programmes must include:

Pre-and post-operation equipment checks and any required
remedial action

Unit standard 3272

Unit standard 19859
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Credits 45

Unit standard 25510
As relevant for the candidate’s workplace context, programmes
may include an appropriate selection of standards covering
equipment related to:

Rope rescue

Hazardous substance spillage

Vehicle extrication and stabilisation

Confined space rescue.
For the Underground strand
6
Maintain and operate specialist
equipment for underground
mines rescue, at an
underground mining site.
Credits 30
7
Test gases and interpret
atmospheric monitoring results
specific to underground mines
rescue operations to ensure
personal and team safety.
Programmes must include:

Pre- and post-operation equipment checks and any required
remedial action

Unit standard 19858

Unit standard 19863

Unit standard 19859
Programmes must include:

Unit standard 21281
Credits 15
For the optional Supervision strand
8
Supervise a mines rescue
team undertaking planning,
emergency preparedness and
mines rescue operations in the
event of an emergency in a
mine.
Credits 30
Programmes must include:

Unit standard 19864

Unit standard 22445
Programmes may include:

Unit standard 21335

Unit standard 27564
Transition information
Replacement information
This qualification replaced the National Certificate in Extractive
Industries (Underground Mines Rescue) [Ref: 1279].
The last date for entry into programmes leading to the replaced qualifications is 31 December 2017.
The last date for completion of those qualifications is 31 December 2020, at which time they will be
designated as discontinued.
Candidates currently working towards any of the replaced qualifications must complete its requirements,
or transfer to a programme of study or training leading to this qualification, by 31 December 2020.
It is anticipated that no existing candidates will be disadvantaged by these transition arrangements.
Qualification Reference 2784
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
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However, anyone who feels that they have been disadvantaged may appeal to MITO at the address
below. Appeals will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
MITO New Zealand (Inc.)
PO Box 10803
Wellington, 6011
Telephone
Facsimile
Email
Website
0800 88 21 21
04 494 0006
info@mito.org.nz
www.mito.org.nz
Qualification Reference 2784
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
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